Boiler risers not true with each other?

adamfre

Is it often That the supply pipes (risers) are not true one from the other? I have one that measures pretty much true to the boiler, but the other tips towards the back, so at 24" riser height, I have one that is 1 inch further back than the other.
My boiler is a Peerless 63-05, and it was shipped assembled.

Thoughts? I've attached a pic for reference, although it's kinda hard to tell unless you have a square on it...

Steamhead

Not uncommon, but you can compensate for just about anything with a drop header.

adamfre

That's good to hear. I can probably shorten the one pipe about an inch and with a little re-positioning get everything lined up. Was just a bit surprised when I got most everything together and the alignment was way off .

Bio

Is your floor/boiler level on all sides?

adamfre

Yup. I had to raise the waterline 6.5 inches so when I poured the concrete for the boiler pads to get me to that height, I was pretty picky about getting it true. You can kinda see the pads in this pic.

SWEI

You may well have posted it someplace, but I don't recall what boiler you finally chose?

bob_46

My moto is" you have to be plumb level and square to get to pipe heaven". I feel your pain. All you can do is try and hide it, maybe with the insulation.
I see you poured two supports , that is not a good idea because there is no bottom panel under the burners and the secondary air adjustment is set with the boiler on the floor. You should have made one big pad or you could put a piece of sheet metal under the boiler.

adamfre

@bob Oops! lol! I didn't even think to ask about support design; the other boiler had been up on blocks that were less than stable (or level) so I figured I'd just pour in the replacements. I guess if it becomes a problem for the professional who comes out to check my work and fire this for the first time I can fill the space with bricks...

@SWEI, I went with a Peerless 63-05. After getting that dood into the basement I have LOTS of respect for you guys who wrestle these 700 pound beasts (and heavier) into less-than-accessable homeowners basements!

SWEI

Right where I was headed: A dry base natural draft boiler usually needs a flat surface underneath in order to make its combustion numbers. Easiest way would probably be to cut a sheet of 1/2" MGO or cement board to span those two plinths.

adamfre

Whew!!! Had to do some re-engineering, but now I've got my header arranged with a slight decline towards the equalizer, and my slightly off risers like I want them!

New England SteamWorks

Hey hey hey! My kind of header. Gorgeous! I would have made the equalizer a little bigger, but you've got style Adam!

Dropping the equalizer straight down to the return: Priceless!

We think alike...

ChrisJ

Ah yeah, I've seen others comment about this on here. You'd think they could run those taps in a little better eh?

I've heard rumor that @Charlie from wmass just puts his knee against the block, grabs the riser and pulls and bends it to line up.

bob_46

I'm a retired pipefitter, nice work on the piping .

gerry gill

Nice- i likey that

Charlie from wmass

Looks good. Never thought of using an engine hoist.

EzzyT

Beautiful work

adamfre

Thanks guys! If it wasn't for your expert advice on here and @DanHolohan book The Lost Art of Steam Heating I would of never got this far.

@Charlie from wmass , how do you normally move these boilers around? The engine hoist idea was a last ditch effort on my part, I had no idea how I was going to do it, not to mention getting it into the basement to begin with was an adventure.

Out of the garage...


Onto the porch....


Down the stairs....


Past the other stairs.....


And setting in place!


I was sooooo sore afterwards.

Charlie from wmass

http://m.harborfreight.com/material-handling/hand-trucks/600-lb-capacity-appliance-hand-truck-65685.html

I use this.

New England SteamWorks

This made me laugh: (recalling an old memory)



Few things more awkward then when the basement stairs land at a wall and make a 90º turn. Pretty much impossible to maneuver the dolly.

When we ran into this situation awhile back with a MegaSteam we found an old steam trunk in the basement that we sacrificed for the sake of the boiler:



We put a tabletop across the landing and the steam trunk to allow us to make the 90º turn.

Then we collapsed the steam trunk and we were in! Too funny sometimes what one resorts to when moving boilers in...

ChrisJ

We slid mine down on it's side a plank nailed to my winder stairs. Worked fine and no stairs, or steam mains were harmed in the production.

Was the block only of course.

Charlie from wmass

I witnessed my father lift a 5 section with the handcart strapped to it off a landing like @RI_SteamWorks had and turn around and lower it to the ground. Alone.

ChrisJ

Charlie from wmass said:

I witnessed my father lift a 5 section with the handcart strapped to it off a landing like @RI_SteamWorks had and turn around and lower it to the ground. Alone.

He lifted 500-600 pounds, alone?

Charlie from wmass

Yes

BobC

We had a shipper like that back in the 80's. If I called down and told him I needed 6ea 50# CO@ tanks upstairs after lunch he would place one on each shoulder and walk up 2 flights of stairs with them, then he walked down and got 2 more tanks and walked them up the winding stairs. Those old tanks weighed 180# each.

Everybody else put one on a two wheeler and got someone to help him bring a tank up the stairs and gave me a dirty look when they brought each one into the lab..

Bob

KC_Jones

@ChrisJ you'd be surprised what a person can lift when put to it. I once lifted one wheel of a car off the ground because we had no jack. Not sure how heavy it was, but I'd guess at least 400-500. I don't think I would ever try what Charlie's dad did though that's just nuts.

When I did my boiler I invited 3 friends over to move it. Used an appliance dolly for the flat moving, slid down stairs like Chris did and then 4 of us carried across the basement. 400 pounds actually seemed "lighter" than my brain was telling me. Of course many hands make light work.

Jamie Hall

You haven't met @Charlie from wmass 's dad. I have. I can see him doing that!

adamfre

I thought about sliding it down the stairs, but was afraid the stairs would collapse. I'm pretty impressed with the electric hoist I bought from Harbor Freight, it handled the weight fine.

PinkTavo

I like the work boots on the helper in the "down the stairs" photo!

adamfre

LOL I was wondering if someone would gig me on that. Those toes are connected to my wife, who came out of the kitchen to snap a few pictures for me. I'm fairly sure she had boots on when she helped out with positioning in the basement. We owned a horse farm before we bought this place and she is used to wearing boots around the animals and while on tractors to protect her feet, but she'll kick em off for sandals as soon as she can!

ChrisJ

Hmmm, electric hoist from Harbor Freight or old stairs.
Really a tossup on that one when it comes to failing.

adamfre

@ChrisJ

adamfre

I did do a test run with the wood stove that was down there, when it didn't drop that I felt like I had a 50 / 50 chance of pulling it off.

ChrisJ

Don't get me wrong, I've bought my share from them too.
I own quite a few pipe wrenches from them like my 4 footers. There's no reason I'd spend the money on Rigid 4 foot pipe wrenches to use them once or twice.

But, you get what you pay for.

Their Predator Honda clone engines are really really really good for the money.